Selections and Authors. Lafayette Joins the Americans. Sprague........ ...... XV .152 Charles Sprague was born in Massachusetts in 1791; died in 1875. His writings were mostly poetical; Whipple says: "His prologues are the best which have been written since the time of Pope." He has been styled" the American Pope, because of his terseness, his finished elegance, his regularity of metre, and his nervous point." The Army at Valley Forge. From "Historic Americans." Parker. 155 Theodore Parker was born in Massachusetts in 1810, graduated at the theological school in Cambridge, and settled in Roxbury, as minister of a Unitarian church. He subsequently became distinguished for the fluency and eloquence of his public lectures and addresses, in which he displayed a remarkable pungency of satire, and an intense humanitarian spirit. His anti-slavery efforts were particularly vigorous and persistent. The boldness with which he advanced his peculiar views in religion gave great offense to many, and his theological writings have drawn upon him considerable bitter animadversion and censure. He was undoubtedly a man of great intellectual power, and a most kindly and philanthropic spirit. His death occurred at Florence, Italy, in 1860. The Dark Hour at Valley Forge. From "Life of General Greene." Greene..... .... ..155 George Washington Greene, born in Rhode Island in 1811, a grandson of General Nathaniel Greene of Revolutionary celebrity, is the author of a "Life of General Greene,” first published as a portion of “Sparks's American Biography,” subsequently much enlarged. He has also pubished several historical and geographical works, as well as an edition of Addison's works, and contributed many papers on historical and critical subjects to the North American Review, Knickerbocker Magazine, etc. He died in 1883. Arnold's Stratagem to relieve Fort Schuyler. From The Life of Washington." Irving.... ..157 Franklin at the French Court. From "The History of the United States. Bancroft... 160 Massacre of Wyoming. From "The History of Wyoming." Stone..163 William L. Stone, a journalist and author of high rank. He was born in New York, in 1793, commenced life as a printer, and subsequently edited journals in Hudson, Albany, and Hartford. In 1821 he became editor of the Commercial Advertiser, of New York City, and thus continued till his death in 1844. His published works are quite numerous, and are highly valued for their historical accuracy and research, as well as for the elegance of their style. Among them may be particu larly mentioned "Life of Joseph Brant, including the Border Wars of the American Revolution," "Life and Times of Red Jacket," "Letters on Freemasonry " and "Tales and Sketches." In personal character he was genial and benevolent, kind and considerate to all, giving his warm and earnest support to every religious and philanthropic object. Marion. Sumter, and Pickens. From "Memoirs, etc." Lee......166 Henry Lee was born in Virginia in 1756. He was known in the Revolutionary war as 'Lighthorse Harry," and the partisan corps of which he was commander was known as “Lee's Legion.” In his celebrated eulogy of Washington, prepared by direction of Congress, occurred the words, "First in war, first in peace, an first in the hearts of his countrymen." His "Memoirs of the War in the Southern Department" were written in 1809, while he was in confinement for debt. He died in 1818. Arrest of Andre. From "The Life of Washington." Irving.....170 Surrender of Cornwallis. From "Military Journal of the Revolution." Thacher..... ......175 James Thacher, M.D., was born in Massachusetts in 1754. He served as surgeon in the Revolutionary war, and was present at many of the principal battles. He was the author of several medical works of great merit. Washington's Farewell Address to his Officers. Marshall... ... .177 The Federalist, From the Life and Times of Madison. Rives.....179 William C. Rives was born in Virginia in 1793: died in 1868. He was a United States Senator, Minister to France, and filled other important civil positions. He was the author of "Life of John Hampden," "Discourses on the Uses and Importance of History," and other works. The First Political Parties. From History of the Hartford Convention." Dwight.... ......179 Theodore Dwight, an able journalist and brilliant political writer, was born in Massachusetts in 1764. He was a leader of the Federal party, and the secretary of the Hartford Convention. He wrote "The Life and Character of Thomas Jefferson." Inauguration of Washington. From "The History of the United States." Hildreth...... ..183 Richard Hildreth, a distinguished writer and journalist. His chief work is a 'History of the United States," which is especially valuable for its accuracy and directness of statement, its dignified but unpretending style, and the fullness of its information in regard to the Selections and Authors. xvii political history of the country. "As a book of reference it still remains as the best in our catalogue of works on American history." Born in Massachusetts in 1807; died in Florence, Italy, in 1865. 66 John Jay. From "The First Century of the Republic." Whipple..186 Edwin P. Whipple, one of our most brilliant writers," was born in Massachusetts in 1819. He is the author of "Essays and Reviews," *The Literature of the Age of Elizabeth," and other works. Died 1886. Invention of the Cotton-gin. From The American Conflict." Greeley. ...187 Horace Greeley, one of the most distinguished journalists of this country, was born in New Hampshire, in 1811, and commenced life as a printer. The New York Tribune was commenced by him in 1841. Mr. Greeley's style is vigorous and pungent, and his writings abound in useful information, addressed to the practical common-sense of the reader. His most extensive work is The American Confiict," in which he gives, with considerable fullness, the events of that great struggle between the two sections of the country, together with the political and social causes that led to it He died in 1872. (See p. 299.) Migration to the West. Audubon.... ....188 John James Audubon, "the ornithologist," of whom Professor Wilson said: "He is the greatest artist in his own walk that ever lived." “Audubon's works," says Cuvier, “are the most splendid monuments which art has erected in honor of ornithology." The price of his great work, "The Birds of America," was $1000. Every object in it is of the size of life. “ Audubon has indisputable claims to a respectable rank as a man of letters Some of his written pictures of birds, so graceful, clearly defined, and brilliantly colored, are scarcely inferior to the productions of his pencil." He was born in Louisiana. His death occurred in 1851. Washington's Farewell Address. Washington... .... .190 Death of Washington. From "The Life of Washington." Marshall (Chief-Justice of the United States).. 192 Character of Washington. From "Orations and Speeches of Edward Everett." Everett..... ....193 Fulton's First Steamboat. From a discourse delivered in 1829. Story. ...201 Joseph Story, LL.D., an eminent jurist, was born in Massachusetts in 1779. He was admitted to the bar in 1801, served several years as a member of the legislature of his native State, and in 1811 was appointed by President Madison associate justice of the Supreme Court, which office he continued to fill till his death, in 1845. His legal treatises have had a very high reputation both in this country and England. Lord Brougham pronounced him "the first jurist living." His miscel laneous writings are numerous. Purchase of Louislana. From an address. Everett... ..... ..196 How the Clermont was regarded. From "The Life of Robert Fulton.' C. D. Colden... ..203 Perry's Victory. From "The Second War between England and the United States." Headley....... ......209 Joel Tyler Headley, one of the most popular writers of the time, was born in Delaware County, New York, in 1814. His principal historical works are "Napoleon and his Marshals," "Washington and his Generals," 'Life of Oliver Cromwell," and "History of the Second War between England and the United States." These works are chicdy distinguished for their melodramatic descriptions and brilliancy of style, but in respect to accuracy of statement have been sharply criticised. Mr. Headley has also published many other works of considerable literary excellence. The Hartford Convention. From "Sketches of American Policy." Webster..... .....215 Noah Webster, LL.D., the author of the "American Dictionary," was born in Connecticut in 1758, and graduated with considerable honor at Yale College, in 1778. He was at first a school-teacher at Goshen, in New York, and while thus engaged, compiled his Spelling Book," which he published at Hartford in 1783. He soon afterward published an English Grammar.” The spelling book has probably been the most widely circulated book ever published in this country. In 1784 he published "Sketches of American Policy," a political work of considerable interest and merit. In 1793 he started a daily paper in New York, which still continues to be published as the Commercial Advertiser. He commenced the Dictionary in 1807, and spent twenty years in its compilation. He died in 1843. How the News of Peace was received. Goodrich.... .216 Samuel Griswold Goodrich, world-wide known under the assumed name of Peter Parley, was born in Connecticut in 1793. His juvenile books, more than one hundred in number, comprise geographies, histories, travels, stories, and illustrations of the arts and sciences. "For more than twenty years his delightful compositions have instructed and edified children in both hemispheres." He died in 1860. Selections and Authors. Xix War with Algiers. From "The History of the United States." Hildreth.. ..216 Treaty with Algiers. From "History of the Navy of the United States." Cooper... .217 James Fennimore Cooper, the distinguished American novelist, was born in 1789. At the age of sixteen he entered the navy as a midshipman, and followed the life of a sailor for six years. His writings are very numerous, including the "Leather Stocking Tales" and other novels, and the "History of the Navy of the United States." In his description of the sea and the various incidents of a sailor's life, as well as of the Indians and their savage manners, no author can claim any comparison with Cooper. His death occurred in 1851. Death of Adams and Jefferson. From "Life and Public Services of ..... .223 John Quincy Adams." Seward... William H. Seward, an eminent statesman, was born in New York in 1801. His writings, and many of his public orations, fill several volumes. While holding the office of Secretary of State in Lincoln's cabinet, he was attacked and seriously injured, on the night of the assassination of Lincoln, by one of the conspirators. He died in 1872. The Magnetic Telegraph. From "Public Men and Events." Sar gent.... ..236 Nathan Sargent, a political writer known under the nom de plume of Oliver Oldschool. Born in Vermont in 1794; died in 1875. American Conquest of Mexico. From "History of the Mexican War.” Mansfield.. ..241 Edward D. Mansfield was born in 1801, and graduated at the United States Military Academy, at West Point, in 1819. He was the author of several works, chief among which are the "Life of General Scott" and the "History of the Mexican War." 66 Mining Life in California. From History of California." Franklin Tuthill, M.D........... .246 ..250 The Mormons. From "History of the United States." J. H. Patton..248 |